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Plus, Flexport announces more layoffs, Hurricane Helene continues to disrupt key lanes, and experts predict truckload carrier rate increase for 2025.
US box demand remains weak, reflecting stunted goods economy—no growth seen in six years.
US box demand remains weak, continuing the months-long trend. This weak demand, a leading economic indicator, reflects a stunted goods economy. In Q2, the Packaging Corp. of America reported a severe 9.8% decline in box shipments. Despite optimism expressed in Q1, no improvement is in sight. Future forecasts hint at improvement in Q3, but no reasoning was provided. Factors such as reduced regional bank lending, ended SNAP benefits, resuming federal student loan payments, and tightened monetary policy from the Federal Reserve cast doubts over increased box demand. Current box demand mirrors 2017 levels, suggesting no growth in six years.
Source: FreightWaves
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